Rooney is one of five Premier League players on the 23-man list, which includes three-time winner Lionel Messi and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo, the Telegraph reports.

Rooney scored 34 goals for United last season, but he is unlikely to become the first Englishman since Michael Owen in 2001 to win the award.

Despite their Champions League success, Chelsea have just one player nominated - Didier Drogba, who left Stamford Bridge at the end of last season to move to Shanghai.

Rooney's United team-mate Robin van Persie and the Manchester City trio of Sergio Ageero, Yaya Toure and Mario Balotelli make up the Premier League contingent, but Ronaldo is viewed as the only realistic threat to Messi's bid to win the award for the fourth year in a row. (ANI[6])